Preps for extended power outages

[usmcveteran]

Based on weather we just had what do people suggest for preparing for extended power outages?

I plan on a generator so that I can keep everything cold, take hot showers and at minimum still be able to use microwave because I don't have gas stove.

[masterswimmer]

This is a tough one. I lost electric, phone, cable & internet for 11 days from Sandy back in '12. I kept the generator running the entire 11 days because of my reef tank. My biggest issue was generator fuel. We don't have NG lines where I live so the only options are LP or gas. We've got a gas gen.

11 days continuous running consumed about 10g/day. Not only didn't I have a bulk gasoline storage tank (most people don't) but I only had two 5g cans. Trying to buy more cans in the days leading up to Sandy and the days following was fruitless. So I was stuck having to run out for gas everyday. Not easy when electric was lost at the local gas stations and those that did have power had lines easily an hour or two long.

It turned out that about 25 miles away they didn't suffer outages like we did here. I drove the 50 miles r/t everyday to fill the two 5g cans. I spent $40+ every day for the gen, and $10/day for gas for the car. In '12 gas was about $3.75/gallon before the storm. The gouging afterwards brought it to about $4.10/g.

An 11 day outrage was extreme. I'd never experienced anything like that before. We survived and I kept the family safe, warm and fed.

If you run a gen on gas I recommend having ample supplies of cans. If you run LP make sure you have enough for extended run time.

Sandy was an eye opener for me.

[usmcveteran]

Great advice! I remember reading that you should store treated gas on site like you say and that every couple of month you should use in your car and buy new gas and treat that so you always have fuel on hand.

[masterswimmer]

Great advice! I remember reading that you should store treated gas on site like you say and that every couple of month you should use in your car and buy new gas and treat that so you always have fuel on hand.

That's exactly what I've been doing.

[big flash]

it's one of those things where if it's cold enough outside, i'm not worried about the food. I can use the weather for that. but then i worry about heating the house.
when it's warm enough outside, i don't worry about everyone being too cold but then the perishable food is a problem.

it's when it's in between that's the real problem. then you have to keep food from going bad and pipes from freezing.

there's so many variables between peoples scenarios. my coworker has to have a sump pump running or his basement floods, even if it's not raining. masterswimmer has fish. some people have oxygen or other medical needs. i just have a toddler but some people have small children and infants that are even more difficult as they need more to keep healthy and occupied.

the more you can get your daily life off the power grid the better. at least gas lines almost never have problems. so if you have natural gas available, start switching major appliances to that. if not, LP is a good option. Photovoltaic systems work great, but we don't get as much sun as a lot of other environments.

we blew up the air mattress and have been sleeping near the gas fireplace in the living room. i am glad I bought a propane mr. heater too. we've been without power for 43 hours now at this point. i packed the fridge and freezer with ice and we're eating what we had to take out to get the ice in. gas water heater and municipal water means i have hot showers still and flushing toilets, can't beat that.

i've wanted a generator for ever but never been able to talk my wife into it. i think she might be down for one if this continues much longer. it's tough because then it'll probably barely get used. in my last neighborhood i would have never run it because i felt like i would have had to of defended it from thrives all the time. in my new neighborhood, everyone has there's out running.

[usmcveteran]

I was talking to a woman last night who rented a generator for 3 days last week and it cost $500! Why not buy one that will at least run things individually and you could still use it for camping, projects away from house , ect.

[big flash]

I was talking to a woman last night who rented a generator for 3 days last week and it cost $500! Why not buy one that will at least run things individually and you could still use it for camping, projects away from house , ect.

yeah, that's nuts. i would assume for that cost it was a pretty serious generator, like on a trailer

[usmcveteran]

That's possible or supply and demand pricing. I didn't ask but I think she said she went through at least $100 in fuel

[24Pink14Stink]

For me, a natural gas generator, plenty of food, water and batteries for flashlights, plus earplugs to drown out the complaining.

[dwa12479]

This is a tough one. I lost electric, phone, cable & internet for 11 days from Sandy back in '12. I kept the generator running the entire 11 days because of my reef tank. My biggest issue was generator fuel. We don't have NG lines where I live so the only options are LP or gas. We've got a gas gen.

11 days continuous running consumed about 10g/day. Not only didn't I have a bulk gasoline storage tank (most people don't) but I only had two 5g cans. Trying to buy more cans in the days leading up to Sandy and the days following was fruitless. So I was stuck having to run out for gas everyday. Not easy when electric was lost at the local gas stations and those that did have power had lines easily an hour or two long.

It turned out that about 25 miles away they didn't suffer outages like we did here. I drove the 50 miles r/t everyday to fill the two 5g cans. I spent $40+ every day for the gen, and $10/day for gas for the car. In '12 gas was about $3.75/gallon before the storm. The gouging afterwards brought it to about $4.10/g.

An 11 day outrage was extreme. I'd never experienced anything like that before. We survived and I kept the family safe, warm and fed.

If you run a gen on gas I recommend having ample supplies of cans. If you run LP make sure you have enough for extended run time.

Sandy was an eye opener for me.

This was my lesson through our wind storm outage. I have a 5 gallon can that I use for lawn mower fuel, and a 1 gallon can of 2 stroke for the trimmer/chain saw etc. The gas stations near me were out of power these past couple days, so I had to drive a little ways for a station that was open. This time it wasn't too bad, just a couple extra miles. But in the event that we ever had a serious outage, I could be screwed for generator fuel. That's a situation that I'll definitely have to address in the near future. Perhaps a 55 gallon drum of stabilized fuel stored in the back shed or something of that sort.

[usmcveteran]

This was my lesson through our wind storm outage. I have a 5 gallon can that I use for lawn mower fuel, and a 1 gallon can of 2 stroke for the trimmer/chain saw etc. The gas stations near me were out of power these past couple days, so I had to drive a little ways for a station that was open. This time it wasn't too bad, just a couple extra miles. But in the event that we ever had a serious outage, I could be screwed for generator fuel. That's a situation that I'll definitely have to address in the near future. Perhaps a 55 gallon drum of stabilized fuel stored in the back shed or something of that sort.

I don't think I would do 55 gallon drum. Maybe a couple of these https://www.manmanstore.com/products...nt=39248021767 . This way you fill one and store it. Wait a little then fill another ect. Then start putting in car and replacing so you constantly have good fuel. I know stabilizer helps but I would still want to replace it every few months and a 55 gallon drum would make that more difficult I think.

[masterswimmer]

I don't think I would do 55 gallon drum. Maybe a couple of these https://www.manmanstore.com/products...nt=39248021767 . This way you fill one and store it. Wait a little then fill another ect. Then start putting in car and replacing so you constantly have good fuel. I know stabilizer helps but I would still want to replace it every few months and a 55 gallon drum would make that more difficult I think.

Be careful using the above linked RED container for anything other than gasoline. In the link to that 14g pump tank it states,

• "Durable, high-density polyethylene in vibrant red for use with gasoline, diesel or kerosene fuels"

Red storage containers are only approved for gasoline. Blue storage container is required for kerosene. Yellow storage for diesel.

Here are links to appropriate safety storage containers:

https://www.uline.com/BL_8171/Gas-Cans

[dwa12479]

I don't think I would do 55 gallon drum. Maybe a couple of these https://www.manmanstore.com/products...nt=39248021767 . This way you fill one and store it. Wait a little then fill another ect. Then start putting in car and replacing so you constantly have good fuel. I know stabilizer helps but I would still want to replace it every few months and a 55 gallon drum would make that more difficult I think.

That's a cool little gas caddy. I get metal 55 gallon drums for free from work. We buy all of our windshield washer solvent in the them and use a barrel pump. I'd use Castle Highway 95 as a stabilizer, I've seen in bring back tanks of bad fuel that had been sitting for years on cars, the stuff is friggin awesome. I'd try and rotate it out yearly. Maybe I'll pick up one of the those 14g cans caddy's you linked to as my fill media for the station and to transport the fuel back to storage.